Fear, an Effective Tool of Manipulation

It seems that the number of people in the United States who do not enjoy a worry-free life is rising partially because of pessimistic efforts by some organizations and people to spread fear. Unapologetically, these often unfounded fears have been occasionally fomented by greedy entrepreneurs, injudicious politicians, and more recently by those who claim to be the guardian of our rights or welfare using social media. More noticeably, dubious fear, fear of something that may not even happen or have an infinitesimal chance of happening. While a number of these fears may have valid justifications and we should be prepared to protect ourselves and manage them. There are, however, more unreasonable fears that are often exploited and turned into money-making scheme by some people who pretend to have our interests in their heart.

Given the fact that many biased experts, ill-intentioned politicians, and profit-seeking entrepreneurs pitch their cleverly crafted exploitive agendas with great gusto, it becomes very easy for us to react irrationally to flawed information or to unfounded rumors. For instance, despite what some politicians want us to believe, we are not living in an increasingly dangerous world. The risk of war between US and Iran has been vastly exaggerated, and comparing the US president to Hitler - no matter how unpopular he is - by some news commentators, is an overreaction. If there is one thing that some people are good at, it is blowing things out of proportion like shrewd marketers of fear disguised as public servants.

Fear-mongering is a lucrative business in the U.S. and too often it is a catalyst to economic survival for some businesses and organizations. Frankly, in market-based economies, profit is the only incentive for human decisions. In order to turn a profit, businessmen have to be able to sell. In order to sell, there has to be a sustained demand for their products. What do they do if the market is saturated and potential demand is lacking? When this happens, they are forced to resort to their imaginative creativity; sometimes this creativity is levelheaded, but all too often it is malevolent. They try to exploit fear generating tactics to create demand and the right conditions that are conducive to manipulation.

I believe fear and its resulting psychological malaise seem to have become severe and ubiquitous. Mental distresses, the offshoot of fears, seem to have reached epic proportions in this country. What do you think?

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My observation of some of the unfolding political events tell me that people still hold on to old labels in order to explain the current political climate. Criticism is imperative but using a label like “Fascism” for example does not apply any more. Fascism grew out of a particular political situation from within the European context and is highly unlikely to repeat itself in Europe or America. It’s misleading even as an abusive term. But it can create fear. In order to grasp a clear understanding of what’s happening today we must pay full attention and fear only distorts the picture. Those of us critical of current political climate in Europe and America which is worrisome, should observe closely to what’s happening, offer real political solutions rather than create fear.

Trump administration is a nightmare of Mullahs' lobby in Washington D.C while the oppositions is nightmare of Cyber baseeji. Mullahs lobby and Cyber baseeji are traitors (Khaens). They're selling out our beautiful country to a bunch of stinky rag heads in exchange for some money they receive from them.
They both act on fear which creates worrisome as Iraj Khan said so and eat their souls. My advise to them is to join million Iranians against tyranny of ruling criminal mullahs. (dictatorship of Velayat Fagheh).
That should be "real Life" example.

A reader wants me to provide a real-life example(s) especially related to Iranian community in the US. I told him, instead of creating controversy, I prefer to wait, hoping some readers do that for me in their comments. Have you encountered such cases or examples?

A reader wants me to provide a real-life example(s) especially related to Iranian community in the US. I told him, instead of creating controversy, I prefer to wait, hoping some readers do that for me in their comments. Have you encountered such cases or examples?